Cutting the Glass Ceiling: Female Discrimination in Restaurants

Gender based discrimination has long been a topic of concern in the workplace. Despite the recent increase in women dominated roles in the restaurant industry, there is still an evident “Glass Ceiling” in place, impeding women from advancing their careers. In the wake of this pressing issue, be sure to employ a Champaign IL EPLI policy to protect your restaurant from discrimination claims.

The National Restaurant Association released information last year reporting that more than 45 percent of U.S. restaurant managers were women, which is higher than the average 38 percent in other industries. What’s more, the same study also found that restaurants owned by women increased 50 percent between 1997 and 2007.

However, the challenges of income and gender bias still exist. Nancy Nichols of D Magazine collected data from female restaurant workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas and discovered that 89.7 percent agreed that men hold the highest earning positions in the industry. Further, women are perceived as poor business operators with inability to manage effectively. Nichols also stated that 66 percent of women have admitted to being paid less than a man in their same position.

Moreover, Sharon Van Meter, who owns 3015 at Trinity Groves in Dallas and future president of Greater Dallas Restaurant Association, says that women candidates who apply for higher earning management positions have increased in recent years. For example, 40 years ago, she was the only woman in her 500 person class at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. However, their graduate pool is now 48 percent female.

Women are continuing to make progress in the restaurant industry and are holding more management positions than a decade ago. While this shift occurs, it is imperative to exercise ethical employment practices and protect your restaurant with professional liability coverage. At Myers Insurance Group, we understand the potential exposures the industry faces and will craft a custom policy that is best suited to your specific insurance needs. For more information, contact us today at (855) 534-5707.